Latest

Watts McCray Lawyers host a “Think Tank” of Australia’s Leading Lawyers and Arbitrators in Sydney to consider a model of Arbitration in Family Law Disputes.

 

Watts McCray Lawyers were pleased to host a workshop of leading lawyers and arbitrators last week in its Sydney office as part of the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators (AIFLAM) initiative to consider arbitration models for family law disputes as an alternative to a Court hearing.  AIFLAM held workshops last week in Brisbane and Melbourne as well.

The Family Law Rules in relation to arbitrations were amended in April 2016. In the last two years since those rules were amended there have been a number of family law disputes referred to arbitrators by the Court, particularly in the Parramatta registry, in an attempt to alleviate the strain on the family court system.  There has not however been a consistent approach adopted in the different registries of the Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court, or in fact in the legal profession.  The recent initiative of the AIFLAM workshops around the country may assist in arbitrations becoming a more favoured option at alternate dispute resolution.

Maurice Edwards, an arbitrator and accredited family law specialist with Watts McCray Lawyers, who attended the Sydney workshop, said “The family court system has been in crisis for some time. In my view there is merit for many family law matters to be arbitrated by an experienced arbitrator of one’s choice in 3 months, than wait up to 3 years for a determination by a Judge that no one has chosen.

At Watts McCray there are many experienced and accredited family lawyers, mediators and arbitrators who are able to explain the various options to achieve a desired outcome. For more details in relation to Watts McCray’s alternate dispute resolution options please follow the link below to our website.

https://www.wattsmccray.com.au/specialty/adr/arbitration/

Do you have a question about family law or relationship law?

Call us now


If you would prefer an Watts McCray team member to contact you, complete the form below.

    i

    Why do we
    need this?

    This helps us make sure the right people can help you.

    *These fields are mandatory